Gentle Healing After Religious Trauma: A Christian Counselor in Roswell, GA Who Leads With Compassion, Not Shame
For some, struggling with religious trauma proves one of the deepest and most difficult struggles of their lives. In a world without harm, faith provides a source of comfort, hope, and belonging. However, religious experiences can also leave behind wounds that feel heavy, confusing, and deeply scarring. Adam Young writes:
“Spiritual or religious trauma refers to the harm that results from experiences within a spiritual or religious context that are abusive, coercive, or deeply shaming. This type of trauma can stem from harmful teachings, authoritarian leadership, and exclusionary practices.”
Key Features of Spiritual Religious Trauma
Authoritarian Control
Leaders or communities use fear, guilt, or shame to control behavior.
Obedience is demanded over critical thinking or autonomy.
Fear-Based Doctrine
Emphasis on unworthiness or divine retribution.
You are taught that questioning or doubting is sinful.
Shame
Teachings that label a person’s gender or sexuality as bad.
Encouraging people to deny their authentic selves to "please God."
Community Exclusion or Rejection
There is frequently a threat (rarely verbalized) of loss of belonging.
Loss of social support systems after leaving a faith group.
Spiritual Bypassing
Encouragement to “pray it away” or “trust God” instead of addressing real emotional pain.
Fragmented Sense of Self
Difficulty trusting your own intuition, body, or voice due to years of being told you are "deceitful" or "sinful."
Spiritual trauma is not just about ‘bad experiences’ in church or faith groups—it’s about long-term psychological harm caused by misuse of spiritual authority and teachings.”
The Effects of Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual abuse is a serious issue that can have profound and lasting effects on individuals. It occurs when someone misuses their spiritual authority to manipulate, control, and harm others. Likewise, if you’ve ever been told your doubts make you “rebellious,” or your struggles mean you’re “broken,” you may know the pain of carrying shame and abuse instead of grace. Healing is possible—but it takes a safe space, gentle support, and someone who understands the unique challenges of faith and recovery.
Dr. Alison Cook says, “All trauma causes you to question your worth. But spiritual trauma adds the terrorizing layer that God might question your worth too.” You may be asking yourself, “Does God question my worthiness? Am I beloved in God’s eyes? Spiritual abuse can be so harmful because it doesn’t just call into question foundational principles in someone’s life; it can also cause attachment wounds, both to other people and to God.
The Allender Center has a checklist to assess if you have been a victim of spiritual or religious trauma. See Below:
Please check the following items that you or someone you know may have experienced as signs of spiritual abuse:
Feeling disconnected from your desires or experiencing shame related to your desires.
Disregarding your intuition or feeling unable to “trust your gut.”
Being dismissed or silenced when questioning or expressing doubts.
Facing threats, coercion, or the threat of being “cut off” when attempting to leave a religious group.
Inadvertently supporting and promoting harmful ideas and theologies that perpetuate spiritual abuse.
Struggling to trust yourself to make decisions about your life.
Holding skepticism towards religious authorities and religious systems.
Experiencing shame concerning sexuality and eroticism, often associated with purity culture.
Being subjected to various forms of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) by individuals who exploited their spiritual authority.
Having profound doubts and uncertainties about how God perceives you, what God thinks of you, and your relationship with God.
Wrestling with deep uncertainties about the nature of God – Is God inherently good? Is God even real?
A Different Approach: Compassion Over Shame
As a Christian counselor in Roswell, GA, my goal is not to pressure you back into a certain type of faith. Instead, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can:
Rebuild trust in yourself, in relationships, and—if you desire—in God.
Process grief over lost community, identity, or beliefs.
Restore peace by working through the anxiety and shame left behind.
Find freedom to explore your faith or personal growth at your own pace.
Healing doesn’t come from more rules or more guilt—it comes from compassion, grace, and acceptance.
Do I Have to Be a Christian to Work With You?
Not at all. While I integrate a Christian worldview for those who want it, I meet every client where they are. Some want to reconnect with faith, others are uncertain, and many simply need a counselor who respects their story. No matter your beliefs, you are welcome here at Renovating Hope Counseling.
Why Choose a Local Christian Counselor in Roswell, GA?
Spiritual trauma can feel isolating, especially if you’re surrounded by a culture where faith plays a big role. Working with a counselor who understands both the local faith community in Roswell, GA, and the challenges that come with it can provide comfort and clarity as you heal.
Taking the Next Step Toward Gentle Healing
If you’ve experienced spiritual trauma, know this: you are not alone, and you are not “too broken.” With the right support, you can find your voice, reclaim your peace, and begin building a healthier relationship with faith—or simply with yourself.
If you’re ready to begin your journey of gentle recovery, I’m here to walk alongside you. As a Christian counselor, I provide safe, compassionate Christian counseling in Roswell, GA, where you can heal without shame and rediscover peace.
If you would like some resources to investigate prior to booking an appointment, see the list of podcasts below:
Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv, and Dr. Dan Allender:
> Engaging Stories of Spiritual Abuse
> Defiance and Healing from Spiritual Abuse
Contact us today to schedule your first session and take the next step toward freedom and hope.
Find Understanding Support Through Christian Counseling in Roswell, GA
Religious trauma can leave deep emotional wounds, often tied to shame, fear, or feeling disconnected from your faith. At Renovating Hope Counseling, LLC, we believe healing doesn’t come from judgment but from compassion, grace, and understanding. Through Christian counseling in Roswell, GA, you’ll find a safe space to process your experiences, rebuild trust, and reconnect with your faith in a way that brings peace rather than pain. You don’t have to walk through this journey alone. Support and restoration are possible.
Here’s how to get started:
Schedule a free consultation to share your story and see how Christian counseling can support your healing journey.
Book your first session with a caring Christian counselor who integrates faith and therapeutic support with compassion.
Begin moving toward renewal, peace, and freedom, guided by care that meets you with empathy—not shame.
Expanded Counseling Services in Roswell, GA
Alongside Christian counseling in Roswell, GA, we provide care for individuals, children, teens, couples, and families. Our therapists support clients working through challenges like anxiety, depression, OCD, eating concerns, and women’s emotional wellness. With a trauma-informed perspective, we also help clients safely navigate and heal from past experiences.
To ensure care is truly holistic, we offer specialized services such as brainspotting, virtual counseling, functional nutrition, and sports performance coaching—creating a comprehensive approach to emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
About the Author: Christian Counselor in Roswell, GA
Kristen Shoemaker is a compassionate therapist dedicated to walking alongside individuals and families as they integrate faith into their healing journey. She is passionate about Christian counseling, helping clients explore life’s challenges through a lens of grace, hope, and spiritual renewal. Married for more than 20 years and a mother of four, Kristen draws strength from her own faith and values quality time with her family, whether it’s traveling to the serene beaches of Kiawah Island or taking in the beauty of the Grand Tetons.
At home, Kristen enjoys the company of her two dogs—Pippin the goldendoodle and Winston the Cavapoo—who bring lightness and joy to her days. Outside of her work with clients, she can often be found gardening, enjoying the outdoors, or gathered around the table for family board games, embracing the small, meaningful moments that reflect her belief in living with purpose and connection.